I had lapband surgery June 12, 2011, and we just got orders to MCAS Iwakuni, PCSing March 15, 2012.  I'm concerned that I won't pass the medical screening because of the Lapband.  Anyone with experience in this area?

Does it need ongoing care? We don't have a hospital on the base, just a little clinic. Urgent care is sent off base to a Japanese hospital, and other treatment is medevac'd to Yokosuka or other sites. Sorry, I don't know about Lapband.

You will not pass overseas screening, a minimum of one year after surgery is required. Even then the more outlying commands may not let you come.
The surgery has the best results when there is constant Bariatric care for years. Unfortunately, that is not available in Yokosuka much less in Iwakuni.

See if they can make adjustments in your husbands orders. CONUS, Delay the orders, change to Yokosuka.

Good luck

Yokosuka will not have the care you need either! since you had the lapband you will require fills and they are not able to do your fills or take any out. If you have any more questions message me. I had gastric almost 2 years ago..

Thank you for your input! My surgeon has stated that he has no problem with me going, as long as I can have a followup once a year. That won't be a problem, since I'll be coming back to the US once a year anyway, and can see him personally. I've only had 2 fills, and have met my weight loss goals with no complications. I know that my doc has 2 patients in Okinawa who had the surgery; both were approved. I really hope they will let me go...I can even get the band emptied if they want....

Good Luck Faith... My Dr. in at The Portsmouth va hospital said he would not even think of approving me if I had the lap because if there was a problem the closest medivac is hawaii. Why would you want it emptied? You would gain your weight back just to move to japan? congrats on meeting your weight loss so quickly!! Thats amazing.. Well Good luck and see you when you get get here!

Hi Ms. Baker, My doctor told me that since I have not had any complications, he would have no problems letting me go. Also, the lapband is used as a tool to help with weight loss, not as a crutch. I won't gain my weight back if I have to have it emptied because I worked hard to lose that 60 pounds, and I will maintain my exercise and healthy eating regimen, with or without it. I am a very healthy 44 year old woman now, and I plan on staying that way. Going with my husband is very important, especially for the length of time involved. Six month deployments are easy...We've done 4 in the last 4 years, and three 7-month deployements before that, but 2 years is a bit long. I'll do whatever I have to for them to approve me, and be happy doing it!

BTW, I had my first appt with the screener on this end today. He said that he'd have no problems approving me, and has added the comments from my surgeon to the record they will send to Japan. According to him, there are a few lapband patients who have passed the overseas screening and are in Japan, especially since it's becoming more common now. He said that he personally did one this summer who is in Okinawa now. I am praying that his information is accurate, and that all will be ok for my family and me.

Faith that's great I hope you get approved and will be able to come here!!

I hope they approve you to come. I had roux n y in 2004 and I didn't have problems getting approved, but I was more than 3 years out and from my research that's what they required. I didn't read ANYTHING about lapbad... everything I could find just said "weight loss surgery" so I really don't know if they count lapband (I'm assuming they do).

When I came over, they weren't sending the medical packets to Yokosuka for approval so my screener just stamped it and that was it, I was approved. Now, however, they are requiring that every packet be approved BY Yokosuka, because a lot of people got here who had some problems the clinic really couldn't (or just didn't) want to deal with.

Hopefully the screener in Yokosuka won't care about it, or hopefully worst case scenario, you could have it emptied, although that would scare the hell out of me, but if you can keep it going, good for you. I would consider it too, because I couldn't do a two year unaccompanied.

Send me a message if you want. We were supposed to leave here in November next year, but it looks like we are extending for another year, so I'll be here for awhile if you want to be shown around a bit.

Thank you so much for the positive messages! Shannon, I'll definitely be messaging you as soon as I know for sure how things are going to pan out for us!! I'm glad to hear you're extending, too! I think I'm gonna love it there...

I do like it here (otherwise we would not be extending, lol). As long as you come with an open mind, you will have fun. We don't have the things that the Tokyo area bases have... they are a bit more Americanized. You will definitely get a real Japanese experience here. I hope you hear back soon. Did they give you any idea of when you would know for sure?

I'm excited for the adventure to begin, and am ready to explore! We're pretty open-minded, and want to learn all we can, and enjoy all that Japan has to offer. My daughter and I had our yearly physicals and dental appointments last week. My Mammogram is scheduled for next week, and then I have one more meeting on the 15th with our Overseas Screener person at the Naval Hospital here. They say we will hear back from Yokosuka about 10 days later, but because of the holidays, I'm hoping we'll know by the first of the year.
I know we'll be arriving in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival...I've always wanted to be there for that!

Cherry blossoms are maybe late April or May. You'll def be in time. You'll get all the advice when you get there, but you can see awesome cherry blossoms by Kintai Bridge or Miyajima Island, both within 30 minutes of the base. You'll love it here.

thank you for the additional information, Thai Guy! I think this little adventure is going to be amazing for my family and me!

Hope all is going good. I Live in Okinawa and they would not clear me until I was 3 yrs post surgery. Hopefully Yokota will be different.

If you are able to come out. I have a Lap Band surgeon that will take care of the band for you. If tricare did not pay for your surgery it will be out of pocket which is about 20500 yen or about 250.00 depending on the yen rate. 

His informatiion is

Dr. Yosuke Seki
7-7 Nibancho,
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 102-0084

81-3-3261-0401 with in japan jus 03-3261-0401

He speaks English as well as some of his staff. He was great! and Very caring. He is also SOS registered and is International surgeon so IF tricare paid for your surgeon, you have to pay nothing as long as the referral is complete before your appointment.

Good luck !!!

p.s also Iwakuni is about 12-14 driving to Tokyo and cost about 170.-200 depending on yen for the shin (bullet train) which takes about 4-5 hours or you can take the MAC flights from Iwakuni to Tokyo and catch a train or pay 8 dollars one way to catch the bus from Kanto Lodge at 930 am  ( right by the Yotoka terminal) and they have another one at 930 pm returning to Yokota. Make sure your appt is After 12 if you take the bus. Hope ALL this info helps and wasn't Over kill! lol

Well, we had some bad news.... I was denied in December because you have to be post-op for 3 years with no complications, even though my doctor offered to empty the band and completely free me from any followups. I would have only been 9 months post-op when we arrived, and there was no way they would approve me. I understand why...In Iwakuni, there is only a small medical clinic. If there are any complications, you have to travel to Yokosuka, about 550 miles away for treatment. NOT good in an emergent situation.

I decided to have my band removed in January. The recovery was uneventful; quick and easy, and I was medically approved in March (you have to be post-op from the removal surgery for at least 3 months to be approved). Our new projected arrival is August. I didn't like having the band removed, BUT it would have been worse for my hubby to have to do 2 years unaccompanied because of me. I'm happy with the decision we made, and am SOOOOOOO ready to finally get to Japan!

Shannon,
Will you still be in Iwakuni in late August?